Both of these medicines can be used to help stop seizures on an ‘as needed’ basis. However, if they are used every day, they may not work as well. They are NOT intended to take the place of your daily seizure medicine. Sometimes a small amount of one of these medicines may be prescribed to take daily with another seizure medicine, but for most people, lorazepam and diazepam are not used regularly.

Lorazepam is available under the brand name of Ativan®, or the generic name of lorazepam in pill form with different dosage strengths. It comes as a concentrated liquid solution under the name of Lorazepam or Ativan Intensol®. These forms are for oral use. It also comes as an injectable form which is usually given only in hospital settings.

Diazepam is available under the brand name of Valium®, as Diazepam Intensol®, or in generic form. It also comes in pill form with different dosage strengths. The injectable form is usually given only in hospital settings.